Portuguese ace Manchester United sold to their Champions League foes has rattled in 182 goals in 179 appearances since his £80million transfer

Happy days: Now Ferguson has to try to stop former charge Ronaldo (Photo: Getty)

Share

Get Manchester United FC updates directly to your inbox

Thank you for subscribing!

Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email

From David McDonnell in Madrid

Sir Alex Ferguson will face Cristiano Ronaldo, a player whose huge talent he nurtured, on Wednesday after admitting even he did not realise how good the Portuguese ace would become.

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho hailed his star Ronaldo as a “player from another world” ahead of the Champions League last-16 first leg clash with Manchester United.

And Ferguson admitted his former protege - who has plundered an astonishing 182 goals from 179 games in Spain - is the one Real player who's causing him concern.

“Ronaldo is the one to worry about,” said Ferguson, acknowledging the threat of the player whom he bought as a relative unknown for £12million in 2003, and sold six years later for a world record fee of £80m.

“He was still a young man when he left me, but I think you can see how he’s flourished in Madrid and his record is - well, I never thought he’d get that total, to be honest with you.

“I knew he’d improve, I knew he was one of the best players in the world, and probably he and Lionel Messi are the two best players in the world.

“But to score the goals he has is just phenomenal.

“I would think he’s at the peak of his career now, and the next three years will also be that way for him.”

Ferguson’s enduring respect and admiration for Ronaldo is obvious, but the United boss believes he has, in Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, players who can stand alongside the Old Trafford club's former No.7.

Van Persie’s 23 goals this season are conclusive proof of the remarkable impact he has had at United since his £24m move from Arsenal, while Rooney’s goal threat and work-rate make him a constant threat.

The focus on Rooney by local media in the Spanish capital suggested there is a greater fear of United’s No.10 than they would care to admit, with Ferguson hailing his new-found maturity and consistency of goalscoring.

“He’s a mature player now, he’s 27. When players mature, little bits of their game change in terms of consistency.

“His goalscoring has been very consistent. He used to score in batches, a few goals together, but he’s now more consistent.

“He can play in more positions, he has energy, enthusiasm and desire. He’s a terrific player.”